Builds Mark's LX450 build

[MarkN]

That's a bummer on the Mark's motor mounts, I wanted those to work. But, you're making good progress. I like that Bussman fuse box, looks like a nice set up. Did you buy it assembled with the relays and pigtails or did you put it together?

I stripped the factory harness too and it really isn't as bad I was expecting. Definitely a good, time vs money trade in my opinion-- assuming I can get it running.

I was disappointed in the motor mounts as well.. they are well designed. I think they could be redesigned to work with the left hand drive. Maybe I will look into that someday..

The fuse box is naked when you get it.. I had to assemble all the relays, fuses, and wiring...

good luck with your build...

 

[MarkN]

Amazing talent at display here....

Envious!

Thank you!!

 

[baldilocks]

Thanks for documenting this swap. You have mad skills and that gives many of us hope and confidence.
I don't anticipate a swap anytime in the near future but is this something you would ever be interested in doing for compensation? You are obviously meticulous as well as knowledgable.

 

[MarkN]

Thanks for documenting this swap. You have mad skills and that gives many of us hope and confidence.
I don't anticipate a swap anytime in the near future but is this something you would ever be interested in doing for compensation? You are obviously meticulous as well as knowledgable.

Thank you ... not sure I would do it for money.. I do enjoy doing it, but I don't want to feel pressured to meet any deadlines. I have thought about buying vehicles, doing the swap, and then selling, that would allow me to work at my own pace... but I am not sure about how much money one could make do that.

 

[Brentok]

Thank you ... not sure I would do it for money.. I do enjoy doing it, but I don't want to feel pressured to meet any deadlines. I have thought about buying vehicles, doing the swap, and then selling, that would allow me to work at my own pace... but I am not sure about how much money one could make do that.

In my case about 13 cents/hour, if I could find the right buyer.

 

[MarkN]

In my case about 13 cents/hour, if I could find the right buyer.

Lol.... agreed...

 

[Zimbwanabe]

So impressed. And on top of all that you drive 280 miles round trip to work on it!

 

[junior80]

so what motor and transmission are you using? maybe I missed it but are they later model toyota parts or something else?

 

[MarkN]

So impressed. And on top of all that you drive 280 miles round trip to work on it!

Thanks.. the drive really isn't that bad.. 2.25 hours... we have a place here on the lake... it is a nice place to get away too...

 

[MarkN]

so what motor and transmission are you using? maybe I missed it but are they later model toyota parts or something else?

GM L33 (all aluminum 5.3) and 4L60E...

 

[reconranger]

Awesome.

 

[MarkN]

Awesome.

thanks

 

[MarkN]

Update – I had a little time last week to work on the LX450.. I started out with getting the power steering system together. I used a Russell 648060 PS to AN fitting and -6an fittings and hose on the pressure side. This is very similar to what I did on the FJ62 LS swap and it has worked great.

I used the existing suction hose and cooler to connect the suction side of the 5.3 PS pump..

New water pump and idler pulleys..

Lower radiator hose…

 

[MarkN]

More--

Heater Hose

Finished up the wiring and most of the plumping under the hood… except for the plug wires..

Put the frontend back on…

I started on the shifter mods and looking at the exhaust.. hopefully I can get pack on this soon..

 

[MarkN]

Update…

Had a few hours this last weekend to work on the project… Started by getting the Transmission shifter installed. I used a cable and some homemade brackets to connect the LX450 shifter and the 4L60e. It worked out well, I do not have it set up to manually go into 1st gear, I doubt I will ever need that functionality, but if I do I will address the problem then. Also the custom mount I made for the Transfer case shifter worked out prefect.

You can see the three bolts and fender washers for the shifter end of the shift cable in this picture.

I didn’t get any picture of the bracket. I will try to getting something later.
Sub-woofer going back in.

Console in place

All the wiring completed under the passenger side dash (expect the Tach signal convertor.. still waiting on it.

Seats installed.. Finished up under the driver’s side dash as well (except for the gas pedal)

Started working on the Air Intake system

I also got the wiring connected to the stock fuel pump and it appears to have plenty of pressure for the 5.3.. not sure about the volume yet, but I am going to give it a try. I am running the stock FJ62 pump on my 88 land cruiser with the same engine… and it has been fine for over 33000 miles.. and I drive it hard, so maybe we will get lucky.


Hopefully I can get back on this in the next few days… Below is a high level punch list that I need to complete.

Install Tach Signal Convertor
Modify and Install DBW pedal
Install new gear on Passenger power seat.. It is stripped out.
Exhaust
Considering swapping out the block hugger headers for Hooker cast iron manifolds.
Need to decide if I am going to do the exhaust system, or have it custom bent for me.. leaning toward custom bent
Going to use magnaflow 2 in to 2 x-pipe muffler
Install lift kit going with 3 inch leveling kit – This is needed for the 4l60e/driveshaft clearance
New brake lines
Install plug wires
Install O2 sensors
Finish up the air intake system
Brake booster hose
Modify OBDII port to allow the fuse box cover to work with my ScanGauge
Install rear seats and the rest of the interior
Figure out what I am going to do about tires.. Leaning toward 315/75/16 or 295/75/16 tires on the stock wheels.. not sure about the width of the tire to wheel. Thought about 255/85/16, but tough to find and might be to skinny…
Re-check every bolt on the drive system

 

[bloc]

What fans are you running?

 

[MarkN]

What fans are you running?

Fbody ls fans 2002..

 

[MarkN]

Update time.. it has been 6 weeks since my last update.. Very busy with work, family, holidays, ice storms, earthquakes, etc...

Got the interior back together… with most of the internal wiring completed.

Then all progress stopped.. for a while.. we had our first ice storm of the year on Nov. 30th and I had a tree fall on my home… It really didn’t cause that much damage but it did scare the hell out of us at 3:00am. Lol.. took a little bit to clean it up..

Back to the LX450..

Decide to go with the Hooker cast iron manifolds instead of the advanced adapter block hugger headers. I like the way that fit better and they exit in a better location than the block huggers.

Replaced the evap solenoid with a custom piece that a good friend made for me..

Built a plate to mount the DBW foot pedal assembly. It mounts in the original LX450 foot pedal mounting holes.

Modified the assembly by added the LX450 pedal.

All together..

 

[MarkN]

Update - It was then time for wheels and tires.. after pricing what I thought I wanted, I decide to wait and see if I could find anything used… a quick search on Craigslist found a set of 4 BFG AT T/A 315/75/R16’s.. New never been mounted.. I was able to negotiate a decent price.. $750.. That made the wheel selection easy.. I decided to go with the factory LX450 wheels..

Before I could mount the wheels and tires, I had a couple of task to complete…

One rear brakes… The rear rotors were so thin they were falling apart.. Decide it was time to replace them..

New..

Next step was lift kit.. I decided to go with OME.. I bought a 3” front – 2” back leveling lift.. Very pleased with it.. rides a little rough.. but that should get better after I had the rear storage and spare tire, and front winch. I have some surface rust so I decided to clean and POR15 the Coil

Spring mounting pads..

Rear

Front

Brackets..

 

[MarkN]

Update - It was getting close to time to mount the wheels and take it for a spin.. but before I did that, I wanted to paint the wheels black…

Sanded the clear coat off and then masked…

Primer..

Sorry.. forgot to take picture of painting the wheels..

Mounted.. And the LX450 is now drivable..